A Journey Through Secrets and Suspense in Jessa Maxwell's Latest Thriller
Author: Jessa Maxwell
Publication Date: August, 13th 2024
Genre: Thriller
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Official Description:
Her most important letter might be her last…
Years ago Alex Marks escaped to New York City for a fresh start. Now, aside from trips to her regular diner for coffee, she keeps to herself, gets her perfectly normal copywriting job done, and doesn’t date. Her carefully cultivated world is upended when her childhood hero, Francis Keen, is brutally murdered. Francis was the woman behind the famous advice column, Dear Constance, and her words helped Alex through some of her darkest times.
When Alex sees an advertisement searching for her replacement, she impulsively applies, never expecting to actually get the job. Against all odds, Alex is given the position and quickly proves herself skilled at solving other people’s problems. But soon, she begins to receive strange, potentially threatening letters at the office. Francis’s murderer was never identified, turning everyone around her into a threat. Including her boss, editor-in-chief Howard Dimitri, who has a habit of staying late at the office and drinking too much.
As Alex is drawn into the details surrounding her predecessor’s murder, her own dark secrets begin to rise to the surface and Alex suddenly finds herself trapped in a dangerous and potentially deadly game of cat and mouse that takes her all the way from the power centers of Manhattan to Francis Keen’s summer house, where her body was found and where the killer may just be waiting for her.
Warning: This article might contain spoilers!
I Need You To Read This Jessa Maxwell
My Thoughts
I recently picked up "I Need You to Read This," and I have to say, I was a bit disappointed.
With all the hype from other reviewers, I had high hopes for this one.
The premise is intriguing: Alex finds her world turned upside down when her childhood hero, Francis, is brutally murdered. Francis, the woman behind the famous advice column "Dear Constance," had been a source of comfort for Alex in her darkest times. When Alex impulsively applies for and gets Francis's job, she's thrust into a dangerous world of threatening letters, dark secrets, and a potential killer who might be waiting for her.
It’s a compelling setup, but unfortunately, the execution just didn’t hit the mark for me. I could tell something was off when I checked my progress and thought I was still in the first third, only to realise I was already more than halfway through. I love the idea of incorporating a column advice but after what felt like the 100th letter, the plot not only started to drag but also became incredibly predictable. This is an issue for me, especially when reading a Thriller. I expect to be on the edge of my seat, I expect suspense, smart twists and turns and a surprising finish.
I might read a lot of crime and thriller but I don't consider myself so versed in the genre that I can predict the most intricate plot twists. So why did I see it all coming?
I can imagine that Jesse Maxwell's intention was to include all those many side-stories in order to meaningfully add to a well-rounded plot. But in reality (at least to me) it started to distract too much.
And it's those side-stories where the issue for me really began:
I truly don’t want to come across as negative.
I appreciated the writing style, and the initial concept was fantastic. However, I feel that the author might have gotten a bit lost in those side-stories and struggled to maintain focus as the plot progressed.
I Need You To Read This Jessa Maxwell
Disclaimer: I have added an affiliate link for your convenience so you can directly purchase the book if you are intrigued. This also means that I will receive small commission. This does not affect inclusion in my reviews or the overall rating of the book.
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